Search intensifies as RCMP fear for missing woman's well-being

The Prince Albert RCMP are intensifying their efforts in the search for Mavis Bird.

Bird was last seen at a gathering on the Sturgeon Lake First Nation on Thursday, August 21 and the RCMP are taking the case very seriously.

“We are very concerned for her well-being,” stated Staff Sgt Chad McLeod of the Prince Albert RCMP. “This file is huge and is getting bigger.”

McLeod said that the case has turned more troubling since earlier this week.

“We have every reason to believe that up until Tuesday, she was ok, but from that point on we’ve been unable to make contact with her.”

He said the case has been a difficult one, as they have received many report of Bird being located or spoken to, but they have been unable to confirm her whereabouts and safety.

There have been reported, unconfirmed sightings in various locations, including Montreal Lake and as far away as Winnipeg just today, but nothing concrete for RCMP to go on.

When Bird first disappeared, it was reported there were two vehicles associated with her. One was found with family, but the other, a blue Hynudai Santa Fe, was recovered by RCMP in an undisclosed location and is still in possession of the Prince Albert RCMP.

McLeod made it clear that RCMP are working the case extremely hard.

“We are fully invested in this,” he said, explain the level of effort RCMP have been putting towards the case.

“We have been using the police dog, home searches, reviewing her banking and cell phone information,” he said. “This is no joke.”

McLeod left no doubt about the urgency of the situation and appealed for anyone with any information at all to contact Prince Albert RCMP.

“We need any and all help from the community that we can get,” he said. “If anyone has seen her, or even thinks they might have seen her, we need to hear from them.”

Bird, who is actually from Little Red River First Nation, not Sturgeon Lake First Nation as originally reported, is a 5’3” aboriginal woman with brown hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with any information is asked to please contact the Prince Albert RCMP at 306-765-5501.